POLARIMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE LUNAR SURFACE AND ITS INTERPRETATION. PART I. OBSERVATIONS.
Abstract
The paper reports on observations and analysis of polarimetric properties of the lunar surface. During the contract two new photoelectric polarimeters were developed, one for infrared and one for ultraviolet light. Part I of the study contains the observational work and is subdivided into two parts. The first part dealt with the polarization characteristics of 14 lunar regions of 65 seconds covering the wavelength range from 0.327 to 1.05 microns. Polarization curves have been obtained for all of these regions. A second set of observations is the determination of the maximum degree of polarization in orange light, of 142 regions, most of which are less than 5 seconds in diameter. The analysis of the measurements of maximum degree of polarization and the normal albedo yields a mathematical interrelation which very probably holds for all lunar terrains. A final portion of this study was the determination of a new lunar normal albedo scale based on measurements provided by nine different sources and the preparation of a catalog of normal albedos of 67 small lunar regions. Part II of the report discusses the application of the polarimetric techniques to the quantitative evaluation of physical properties of small regions on the lunar surface. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0699241
Entities
People
- Audouin Dollfus
- Edward Bowell
Organizations
- Paris Observatory, PSL University